Roles in One of America’s Hottest Fields

UX designer jobs are part of the fastest-growing career fields in the United States1 for reasons that should come as little surprise. Quality user experience design (UXD) can lead to an increase in site conversions of up to 400 percent,2 which can greatly impact brand loyalty and sales, and a majority (57 percent) of web users say they won’t recommend a business with a poor mobile experience.3 For those watching the bottom line, these statistics make UX design a critical contributor to profitability.

But perhaps of greater interest to prospective UX designers is this: Not only is there rising demand for UX design professionals, it is also a field in which people find great personal satisfaction. In a national survey of UX design professionals, 81 percent of respondents rated their current career satisfaction at a five or higher on a scale of one to seven. These individuals reported feeling highly valued, said their work was challenging and engaging, and felt their work was beneficial to humanity.4

Take advantage of the robust market for exciting and fulfilling UX designer jobs, and build the skills you may need to accelerate your UX design career. It all starts here.

UXD Careers by the Numbers

#38

of the 50 Best Jobs in America5

75%

Our alumni reported and average salary increase of over 75 percent after completing the program6

Download Our Career Brochure

Popular Career Paths in UX Design

Within the realm of UX design, there are numerous unique roles to consider. Think you’re looking only for the title “UX Designer?” Think again. While this recognizable role is a great fit for graduates of the online MS in UXD, others like it are equally attainable and often come with attractive salaries.

User Experience Designer7

  • Median salary: $98,800
  • Top salary: $155,000

User Experience Researcher8

  • Median salary: $106,800
  • Top salary: $175,500

User Interface Designer9

  • Median salary: $104,800
  • Top salary: $167,500

Discover Qualities of a UX Designer

From Our Students

Alesha Arp

Alesha Arp, MS ’16

During my 16 months in the program, I discovered that my professors were all practitioners, and the challenges that we were being given in class were practical, not theoretical. When I graduated, I walked out of Kent State with real-world experience, ready to hit the ground running from the day I got my degree.

Read Her Story

Find Your UXD Career Path

Because UXD represents a diverse set of skills and focus areas, there are several unique career paths to consider. In addition to the three mentioned, here are even more roles you could consider after earning your online MS in UXD.

Average annual salaries:

$94,700
Usability Analyst10
$126,600
Information Architect11
$81,500
Interactive Designer12
$86,000
Visual Designer13

Where Will Your Career Take You?

10 U.S. Cities for UX Design Careers:14

  • New York
  • San Francisco
  • Atlanta
  • Chicago
  • San Jose, California
  • Seattle
  • Boston
  • Los Angeles
  • Charlotte, North Carolina
  • Washington, D.C.

Download a Brochure Apply Now

Top Industries for Kent UXD Graduates14

  • Consulting
  • Educational services
  • Government agencies
  • Healthcare
  • Marketing/advertising
  • Media/entertainment
  • Technology

More Benefits of a UXD Master’s Degree

Start Making an Impact in User Experience Design

To submit a successful application, follow the steps in our application checklist.

Gain Career Traction

Make your success your top priority. Apply today.

An Immersive Curriculum

Designed for busy working professionals and students seeking to expand their career options.

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At first glance, Chello Elmi might seem like an unusual fit for a UXD program. She studied psychology as an undergraduate, but when it came time to earn her master’s, all she knew was she didn’t want to continue in a therapeutic or mental health field.So, she started searching online for potential...
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If user experience (UX) design centers on shaping the experience of using a product, and most of that experience involves some interaction between the user and the product, then what is interaction design, exactly?The sheer volume of sites (482 million) that results from a basic web search suggests that this is an easy question to answer, but don’t be deceived.The two overlapping...
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Fall 2023 Semester
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Final Deadline
Fall 2023 Semester
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First Day of Class
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Sources
  1. Retrieved on November 10, 2020 from onwardsearch.com/career-center/ux-careers-guide/
  2. Retrieved on November 10, 2020 from forbes.com/sites/forbesagencycouncil/2017/03/23/the-bottom-line-why-good-ux-design-means-better-business/#37d941952396
  3. Retrieved on November 10, 2020 from socpub.com/articles/the-5-mobile-marketing-mistakes-infographic-14849
  4. Retrieved on November 10, 2020 from media.nngroup.com/media/reports/free/User_Experience_Careers.pdf
  5. Retrieved on November 10, 2020 from glassdoor.com/List/Best-Jobs-in-America-LST_KQ0,20.htm
  6. Based on a limited sample of self-reported data from Kent State alumni from graduating cohorts between 2016-2020.
  7. Retrieved on November 10, 2020 from ziprecruiter.com/Salaries/UX-Designer-Salary
  8. Retrieved on November 10, 2020 from ziprecruiter.com/Salaries/UX-Researcher-Salary
  9. Retrieved on November 10, 2020 from ziprecruiter.com/Salaries/User-Interface-Design-Salary
  10. Retrieved on November 10, 2020 from ziprecruiter.com/Salaries/Usability-Analyst-Salary
  11. Retrieved on November 10, 2020 from ziprecruiter.com/Salaries/Information-Architect-Salary
  12. Retrieved on November 10, 2020 from ziprecruiter.com/Salaries/Interactive-Designer-Salary
  13. Retrieved on November 10, 2020 from ziprecruiter.com/Salaries/Visual-Designer-Salary
  14. Information reflects self-reported data gathered from Kent State University students enrolled in the online Master of Science in User Experience Design from fall 2014 through summer 2018.